Sounh Manivong

Biography

Mr. Sounh Manivong is an expert in tourism development in the GMS, ASEAN and Lao PDR. Having been employed by the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism of Lao PDR since 2011, he has led many national and regional programs and initiatives. Before being appointed as Director General of the Tourism Marketing Department, he was the Director General of the Planning and Cooperation Department from 2005 to 2011, and the Director General of the Tourism Development Department from 2011 to 2017. During his tenure, he led various projects, including the ADB-sponsored Sustainable Tourism Development Project and the GMS Tourism Development Project.

Educated with a Master of Art from the Pyatigorsk Pedagogical Institute (former Soviet Union), he is fluent in Lao, Thai, English, and Russian. Originally from Champasak Province in Southern Laos, he now resides in the Lao capital of Vientiane with his wife and five children.